To be simple, "Mass Effect 2" is a astounding game that fixes the problems "Mass Effect" had and even surpasses them with superiority. The gameplay is more of the same thing like "ME" but it's still awfully fun. Graphics and the player screen has drastically improved as well as the money system. Yes, in "ME2" weapons and armor aren't overpriced as they were in "ME". Overall a powerfulTo be simple, "Mass Effect 2" is a astounding game that fixes the problems "Mass Effect" had and even surpasses them with superiority. The gameplay is more of the same thing like "ME" but it's still awfully fun. Graphics and the player screen has drastically improved as well as the money system. Yes, in "ME2" weapons and armor aren't overpriced as they were in "ME". Overall a powerful space opera SF role playing game, a game you WILL play.…Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
Mass Effect 2 is awesome game, but in this game bad ending, which the cause cry. In this game awesome graphics for 2009, amazing storyline, good main hero - Captain Shepard, which should make you. Mass Effect 2 is best game of 2009 and even better than Assassin's Creed 2, Mass Effect 2 is best game in series and I think this game can compare with The Elder Scrolls Skyrim . AWEEESOOME Game, but sad ending, Captain Shepard and his team was died.…Expand

Usually in a trilogy the weakest part is the second part, but boy the rules do not apply here. This game is a masterpiece a classic a game that will be talked about for years and years to come. Even if you do not care to play the first game(which I recommend you do) you will still enjoy this game greatly. The only downside is having to wait for ME3 for the conclusion of this trilogy!

Played it again recently with all the DLC's installed. Great game. Some things were improved others were a little step back. Story is great. Character selection is fantastic. RPG elements were cut back a bit but it still felt alright. I liked customizable armor but did not like how I couldn't change/upgrade companions armor, you could change their look which is something I guess. MiningPlayed it again recently with all the DLC's installed. Great game. Some things were improved others were a little step back. Story is great. Character selection is fantastic. RPG elements were cut back a bit but it still felt alright. I liked customizable armor but did not like how I couldn't change/upgrade companions armor, you could change their look which is something I guess. Mining for minerals is boring. Doing research to upgrade your equipment is good. Side missions are better than in previous game. Really good and fun game.…Expand

Excellent game. Developed characters, epic story, interesting plot. However, i must point out - i feel that the decision between good and bad choices (Paragon vs Renegade) affects the progression of the game in no way whatsoever. Yes, if your Paragon (goodness) is high enough, locked options will become available to you in dialogues; but as to the effect on the overall story - whetherExcellent game. Developed characters, epic story, interesting plot. However, i must point out - i feel that the decision between good and bad choices (Paragon vs Renegade) affects the progression of the game in no way whatsoever. Yes, if your Paragon (goodness) is high enough, locked options will become available to you in dialogues; but as to the effect on the overall story - whether you are an angel or a bad ass - has no effect whatsoever. I wish in some way it did, and an alternative path could be taken by a Renegade than the paragon fan. It is not the case, unfortunately. The rhythm of the game is, too, a little bit off - it seems every character (from your gathered team) waits until the very end of the game, to pour his entire life's story on you. Very anti-climatic, considering how the ending picks up the pacing of the story. These are the only negatives i have for this game - otherwise, a solid blockbuster for me! Enjoyed highly!…Expand

Chest-high walls everywhere! Mass Effect 2 trades in most of the RPG (inventory, loot) elements from the first game, changes its tone (darker, more serious) and expands on the combat elements. Thankfully the dialogue wheel and conversations are just as expansive as before, although hub worlds and areas have been minimized, marginalized (the Citadel is tiny now). No vehicle sectionsChest-high walls everywhere! Mass Effect 2 trades in most of the RPG (inventory, loot) elements from the first game, changes its tone (darker, more serious) and expands on the combat elements. Thankfully the dialogue wheel and conversations are just as expansive as before, although hub worlds and areas have been minimized, marginalized (the Citadel is tiny now). No vehicle sections (amended somewhat with DLC), though the "N7" missions are back and aren't repetitive this time around. Stellar voice acting, music and cinematography as to be expected, writing is very dodgy in places but as far as experiences go, this one is hard to beat - the endgame ("suicide run") is second to none.…Expand

Pros
+Storyline elements from the first game are retained with Paragon/Renegade choices which lead to different results and scenarios.
+Fantastic voice acting
+Save files from ME1 can be imported to ME2 and ME2 save files can be exported to ME3
+New DLC content is heavy with Storyline elements
+Ability to collect figurines of ships and artifacts
+Achievement system specifically designed for ME2 is included
+Ability to scan planets and explore the galaxy is much better than the first game unlike the first game where you go through barren planets.
+Side missions are more beneficial and much more exciting and challenging than the first game.

Cons
-The ability to alter a character's appearance depending on what equipment they have on no longer exists
-No more armor equipment for any characters, only weapons
-Class system still exists but barebones compared to the original
-Game is more of a Shooter than a RPG unlike the first game
-DLC is expensive and can only be obtained either via Amazon or Bioware Store…Expand

2/18/2012: People love to hate on this game, but I feel like it fixed a lot of the first game's problems, maybe too well: It really just feels like a slightly RPGish cover shooter. This is not a bad thing, but it's a pretty dramatic switch from the first game. And it made that game, which I utterly loved the first time through, seem really crappy, and that feels weird to say. Mass Effect 22/18/2012: People love to hate on this game, but I feel like it fixed a lot of the first game's problems, maybe too well: It really just feels like a slightly RPGish cover shooter. This is not a bad thing, but it's a pretty dramatic switch from the first game. And it made that game, which I utterly loved the first time through, seem really crappy, and that feels weird to say. Mass Effect 2 is nothing if not damn fun (And has a much improved PC port), but it can drag on a bit, has horrendous load times, and yeah, the mining mini-game sucks. But it pulled me in and kept me in my seat in a way most shooters would only dream of. Again, the game's strong point is its writing and in-depth universe. One would hope the upcoming third and quote "final" (and lo and behold, it was not) iteration addresses the flaws of the earlier titles while preserving what I loved about the first two- a true sense of the epic, the wonder of exploring the galaxy and the feeling of power you get from being Shepard.

In my opinion this is the best installment of the series. We are introduced to some of the best character in the series ■Grunt ■Jack ■Jacob Taylor ■Kasumi Goto
■Legion ■Miranda Lawson ■Mordin Solus ■Samara or Morinth ■Tali'Zorah vas Neema / Normandy
■Thane Krios ■Zaeed Massani
And the old friends also returned. I lovedIn my opinion this is the best installment of the series. We are introduced to some of the best character in the series ■Grunt ■Jack ■Jacob Taylor ■Kasumi Goto
■Legion ■Miranda Lawson ■Mordin Solus ■Samara or Morinth ■Tali'Zorah vas Neema / Normandy
■Thane Krios ■Zaeed Massani
And the old friends also returned. I loved the dark and grim atmosphere of the game. The collectors were very interesting villains. The pace of the game and the story were perfect. The graphics were improved. For the first time the player could explore the galaxy, which was a great addition. Weapon and armor customization was introduced. Player decisions really changed the outcome of the ending. I can only recommend the game. Don't forget to import your save files from ME1!…Expand

The surprising event to occur at the start of ME2 got me very intrigued on my first play through and as the story unfolded I became hooked in anticipation. ME2 is not a good game because it improves on the short comings of Mass Effect 1, its good because it has an interesting story and setting that has depth and things are at stake to care about, well designed characters aesthetically andThe surprising event to occur at the start of ME2 got me very intrigued on my first play through and as the story unfolded I became hooked in anticipation. ME2 is not a good game because it improves on the short comings of Mass Effect 1, its good because it has an interesting story and setting that has depth and things are at stake to care about, well designed characters aesthetically and with personality, the decision making is not only ambitious but is pulled off very well, brilliantly and originally designed environments, creatures, costume and armour, and technically performs well at least on my PC with game play that feels satisfyingly good. The characters are good and memorable, I actually felt dread when some of them die, if you dont fall in love with Garrus, Tali, Legion, and Thane by the end of ME2 you have problems, I even grew attached to the space ship. I also want to make a big shout out to the legendary soundtrack, everyone must download the track Suicide Mission from Itunes now, its freaken awesome. The lack of depth in the RPG at first seems like a good thing as the shooting mechanics are good but after playing the game for over 60 hours it starts to show is thin side and has you missing some of the lacking RPG of the first game. I also dont think the decisions a player can make are perfect, who in their right mine didnt save the alien counsel in ME1? Who didnt save Wrex? But overall ME2 is a remarkable achievement and a new benchmark for modern single player games!…Expand

A great sequel to a great game. This delivers even more on the original and has so much great story and interaction. The actual gun play still leaves a little to be desired but the world it immerses you in more than makes up for it.

i haven't played a game as perfect as mass effect 2 this game is awesome in every aspect all the defaults that were in the first mass effect are not only fixed in this game but improved in a great way i think i will never play a game that will make me attached to the characters in this game i felt like the characters were my friends and i had to care for them i also loved the romancei haven't played a game as perfect as mass effect 2 this game is awesome in every aspect all the defaults that were in the first mass effect are not only fixed in this game but improved in a great way i think i will never play a game that will make me attached to the characters in this game i felt like the characters were my friends and i had to care for them i also loved the romance part in this game it was great (romanced Tali by the way) and if u want to talk about a great mission let's talk about the last mission the best mission i have ever played in a game so far i highly recommend this game and i really can't wait to play the third part…Expand

Sweet graphics and effects. Epic story. Varied and memorable characters (and more of them too!) the terrific voice acting makes them truly come to life. Definitely one of my favorite games ever. ALWAYS CALIBRATING.

Again, in my humble opinion, the Mass Effect series is first and foremost a story-driven game. Every moment, from the beginning of the series when you first walk aboard the SSV Normandy SR-1 to the scene before the piss-poor, highly disagreeable series ending in ME3, had me begging for more because I wanted to know what was going to happen. Or, often enough, what COULD and WOULD happen given which options I choose to follow to advance the story. I mean, with an opening scene like this that REALLY got your attention and hit you in the gut, it's hard not to like the storyline.

I think combat gameplay is better in this one than the first game, and I definitely like the more streamlined and simpler inventory system and UI in general. While the extensive customization and looting from the first game was done away with, there continues to be a decent amount of both in this installment of Mass Effect. I particularly like decking out your cabin as well as upgrading your ship those were pretty cool additions and I wish there was more customization like that.

Simply mindblowing! Mass Effect 2 is much darker than the first one in its atmosphere and more of a cyberpunk. It gives off the same vibe as the Deus Ex series. I'd even go as far and to say that perhaps it is even more immersive and engrossing than ME1.I loved the first Mass Effect and I wondered how the second could possibly top it. Well, it has managed to improve on a lot of aspectsSimply mindblowing! Mass Effect 2 is much darker than the first one in its atmosphere and more of a cyberpunk. It gives off the same vibe as the Deus Ex series. I'd even go as far and to say that perhaps it is even more immersive and engrossing than ME1.I loved the first Mass Effect and I wondered how the second could possibly top it. Well, it has managed to improve on a lot of aspects from the first one, even though it did dumb down a little bit on the RPG element. Now you no longer have a huge inventory full of weapons and their upgrades. In some ways this is good, because you no longer need to spend time cleaning your inventory off the useless stuff, but on the other hand the game lost out on a lot of customization aspects. Mass Effect 2 is a lot more of a squad oriented shooter than the first one was. It improved a lot on the shooter aspect of the gameplay, like making the cover system better, the weapons are more fun to use, and generally the gameplay feels fresher and more polished. Just as with the first game, Mass Effect 2 is incredibly immersive. Not only do you get to travel all over the galaxy again and completing quests, but this time you have 10 team members (plus 2 more with DLCs) instead of 6. Although it might seem a lot, but each and every one of those characters is captivating and has been developed superbly. Although the main plot is not as much the focus of the game as it was in ME1, the game does not lose out here, because the story is more character-driven. You get to recruit each and every team member separately, and additionally you can also do a loyalty mission for each of them, which helps to uncover more of their background and you get to really know what makes each of them tick. On the romance front you have a lot more choice than in the first game too. The galaxy exploration aspect has improved as well. Now you get to actually scan each planet manually and harvest resources from it, which you then need to use on upgrades to your weapons, armor, and ship. I also want to mention that I was incredibly impressed with the final mission. "Epic" is simply not good enough of a word to describe that finale. The whole team is involved in that mission, and this is something I felt that the first game missed out upon. I am glad ME2 had the finale that it deserved. The mission was so intense that I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Your decisions in that mission could have huge effects on whether your teammates would survive or not. It is one of the most dramatic and most memorable moments of video gaming for me. And so to conclude, I'd say that Mass Effect 2 is almost perfect of a game. Sure, it might've lost some of the RPG feel that the first game had, but it's amazing in its own right. It did not remove the good stuff. It simply replaced it with something different. The only thing I can nitpick on is that the same button is used for taking cover, running, and interacting with stuff, so at times you might for example want to run, but Shepard will start talking to a nearby person instead, or you might accidentally take cover on the wrong side of the object in the middle of a gunfight. But that is a very minor nitpick and does not detract from the mindblowingly divine experience this game will provide you with. It's only been a day since I completed it and I am already longing to replay the game, so I started a new playthrough. That is how addictive it is.…Expand

No much to say here! They fixed all bad things which was annoying in 1st part continuing awesome story and characters. Map system and fighting is also improved which made this game almost perfect. Play 1st part because of story line and this part for fun!

To my mind the best game of my generation! Gun shooting improved, nice variety of missions(no boring quests at all), voice acting the same top class, more memorable characters that I've seen in the video game so far! And continuing with your save from predecessor another genius decision from Bioware! And of course 30+ hours of super engaging main plot & lot of appealing side missionsTo my mind the best game of my generation! Gun shooting improved, nice variety of missions(no boring quests at all), voice acting the same top class, more memorable characters that I've seen in the video game so far! And continuing with your save from predecessor another genius decision from Bioware! And of course 30+ hours of super engaging main plot & lot of appealing side missions makes it a full package!…Expand

This was the first Mass Effect game that I played, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like most Bioware RPGs, it featured above-average writing and character development. Throughout the game I felt invested in the story and the characters, who I grew to care about and (eventually) mourn their deaths. The gameplay in general was fun and the environments were interesting. My main complaint is thatThis was the first Mass Effect game that I played, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like most Bioware RPGs, it featured above-average writing and character development. Throughout the game I felt invested in the story and the characters, who I grew to care about and (eventually) mourn their deaths. The gameplay in general was fun and the environments were interesting. My main complaint is that there is little you can do to customize your characters: your main character can wear different armor pieces which are slightly different, and along the way you collect weapon upgrades which are automatic. The only real customization is in your talent points, but there are few of these and they do not generally affect gameplay as much as you might expect. I ended up taking these limitations with a grain of salt and just enjoyed blasting things instead, but I could see this being a significant setback for some players.…Expand

Very good game for what it is: A great Gears of War clone with a great setting and story. I don't agree with it being the best of 2010, the best of that year was Fallout New Vegas. But it was close.

I liked the gameplay elements, the action, the graphics, the story, the characters, the voice acting and the dialogs, the choices. It was a really fun sci-fi experience.
I wasVery good game for what it is: A great Gears of War clone with a great setting and story. I don't agree with it being the best of 2010, the best of that year was Fallout New Vegas. But it was close.

I liked the gameplay elements, the action, the graphics, the story, the characters, the voice acting and the dialogs, the choices. It was a really fun sci-fi experience.

I was dissappointed with the dumbing down of RPG elements compared to the first Mass Effect though. Make no mistake, this is no RPG anymore. This is a shooter with a dialogue wheel. While this is not necessarily bad, a game doesn't have to be an RPG to have a great story, this game was FALSELY advertised as an RPG by the press and some fans.

The only issues i have with this game, are the repetitive combat with the braindead enemies, and that the story doesn't really advance the franchise storyline much. It was somewhat uneeded as a part in the trilogy, made just for the sake of making it to earn more money one more time with the engine.

Still, i did enjoy it. And remember it fondly. So a 9/10, recommended for all sci-fi fans.…Expand

What a show! What an ending! I miss already but I can't imagine any other Shephard that mine. Fantastic, immersive story, colorful, deep characters, improved shooting, there's nothing I could complain about. Almost, I suffered being forced to amass elements. Beside that it's THE game you want to play when you come home after work.

Overall, I like mass effect 1's more rpg like focus to it's mechanics and stats than mass effect 2's more functional and bare streamlining. However, while this game is a better rpg - it also has more lows in it's pacing. Some sections in mass effect are incredible and interesting, others are slow moving. I think mass effect 2 should have never removed the planet exploration. In the end. IOverall, I like mass effect 1's more rpg like focus to it's mechanics and stats than mass effect 2's more functional and bare streamlining. However, while this game is a better rpg - it also has more lows in it's pacing. Some sections in mass effect are incredible and interesting, others are slow moving. I think mass effect 2 should have never removed the planet exploration. In the end. I score both games the same. 9/10. For different reasons, mass effect 2 is a perfectly paced game, that was successfully streamlined. However lost some of it's scale as a result. Mass effect 1 was more ambitious, however it was occasionally boring.…Expand

My only gripe with Mass Effect 2 is that Bioware listened too much to the casual action prefering side of original game's fanbase, its nearly stripped from all RPG mecnanics and turned into a standard TPS, a good one at that, but still i woulda prefered a more refined formula of the first one.

Still much of those qualities that made the first game so amazing are still there.

A true Sci-Fi game. With amazing visuals, music, writng, voice acting, and gameplay, a diverse cast of characters, a dark and mysterious plot. You can feel actual pressure for your decisions. Option of importing a character from ME1 is amazing.

This game was my first in the Mass Effect series. Unfortunately I discovered the series way after it was popular. So at first I didn't know what the hub bub was about. If your new to the series at first it just seems a little flat. It seemed it was more about graphics and such. And the series seemed to be a more modern and not Star Wars universe rip off of KOTOR.

After you get playingThis game was my first in the Mass Effect series. Unfortunately I discovered the series way after it was popular. So at first I didn't know what the hub bub was about. If your new to the series at first it just seems a little flat. It seemed it was more about graphics and such. And the series seemed to be a more modern and not Star Wars universe rip off of KOTOR.

After you get playing you see what the series is about. It has a lot going for it. First it is a first person shooter for the average Joe. Then they throw in coordinated squad combat. They up the anti by giving you a character that can allow you to chose good or bad actions, as you choose without ruining the storyline. They wisely have you playing the title character but allow you to customize your story and looks. They also have you choose a class, but allow you to chose the way your character levels up. Which can greatly alter your game experience when you choose to replay the game.

Then they allow you to upgrade weapons, your ship and even choose how your squad mates level up. You can even just let your squad mates help you in fights or command them who to attack. But to make the game better they add mini games. Which just adds an entire new level of enjoyment to the game.

But the big draw is probably story. The game has a story line for you. You make choices that can affect the way your companions see you. And may subtly affect other aspects of the story. On top of that story you get other stories very much like the KOTOR series does.

In the end the game seems to take the best of the KOTOR series and change it up enough so that you have similarly great aspects. But with enough changes to make the system seem fresh and exciting.

Because you can choose to go in so many directions the game has great replay value. Certainly a game worth owning. And probably should be in any RPG fan's collection.…Expand

I have not played Mass Effect 1- but I still found this game to be amazing. The characters, the story, the gameplay - it is pure fun. The cover-based squad combat works great. The downsides to this game are that you have very limited options when it comes to choosing weapons- there is often one clear weapon to choose over another when picking a shotgun, pistol, SMG, etc. Also, the gameI have not played Mass Effect 1- but I still found this game to be amazing. The characters, the story, the gameplay - it is pure fun. The cover-based squad combat works great. The downsides to this game are that you have very limited options when it comes to choosing weapons- there is often one clear weapon to choose over another when picking a shotgun, pistol, SMG, etc. Also, the game seems to get into the end-game very quickly- just when you think you're just coming together as a team, you hit the last level. Finally, it seems that choosing different squadmates has a very small impact on gameplay- it makes little difference who I choose to bring with me. They all do about the same amount of damage- the only thing that changes are your abilities, which means that teammates with the more useful abilities should ALWAYS be chosen over those that don't have useful abilities. Other than this, everything about the game (except for the mining mini-game. Don't get me started on that) is phenomenal- there is a universe here that is meant to be explored, and boy is it fun.…Expand

One of my all-time favorite PC Games ever. This is truly an epic video game with a wonderful story and beautiful graphics. There really aren't many games I enjoy replaying like this one. I have played through the game 3 times and each play through was literally as fun as the last. It really makes me sad because this is the one game I kind of wish would go on forever.

One of the very few games that I beat in one sitting. One of the few games that I was sad because of the Characters that died. One of the few games that I really enjoyed. It was the high point of the series. Mass Effect was Ok. held back by bad graphics and gameplay. Mass Effect 3 was trying to appeal to a huge audience. Mass Effect was just perfect, no doubt about it. Its ended up on manyOne of the very few games that I beat in one sitting. One of the few games that I was sad because of the Characters that died. One of the few games that I really enjoyed. It was the high point of the series. Mass Effect was Ok. held back by bad graphics and gameplay. Mass Effect 3 was trying to appeal to a huge audience. Mass Effect was just perfect, no doubt about it. Its ended up on many peoples "Best Games Ever" lists, and im no exception…Expand

This game came out about the same time I met my current girlfriend. Godammn it! Eventually I decided to let her in on a little secret of mine. I told her that frequently after we say goodnight and I drop her off home, I go home to my room and take command of a spaceship, called the Normandy. Didn't make any mention of the little thing I was hoping to get going with one of the cuteThis game came out about the same time I met my current girlfriend. Godammn it! Eventually I decided to let her in on a little secret of mine. I told her that frequently after we say goodnight and I drop her off home, I go home to my room and take command of a spaceship, called the Normandy. Didn't make any mention of the little thing I was hoping to get going with one of the cute hands-on-deck (Ashley I think her name was ). And then I cruise around galaxies and star systems looking for minerals, exploration activities, fights, battles and quests. Thus I had to admit that even though she thought she was starting a relationship with a switched-on intelligent guy, I was actually one of those moronic imbeclies that play RPG games on their computer. Suffice to say it didn't go down to well ... Why you'd want to know that I don't know, but what I'm trying to say is that I had to explain what this game was to a person that has never played a game in their life before. Once she could see that there was "story", "character development", "adventure", "combat" and "politics", she was much more impressed. I actually used this as an excuse to get her round to my place one night, by saying something along the lines, "I'll let you choose which planet we go to :)".…Expand

This is to date my favorite game , it has almost everything, excellent voice acting and characters that make care about them, decisions to make that will affect the ending, the normandy and its crew, but the most important thing is the history and is top notch, also the missions ,locations and soundtrack are inmersive and very very good.

Honestly, this is one of the best games I've ever played. The story, character interaction, and dialog is second to none. I've played it through eight times on different characters and each time the emotional turns and set pieces are still impressive. Several fantastic DLC, such as Shadow Broker, have further boosted the game's standing. True, they've removed a lot of classic RPG elementsHonestly, this is one of the best games I've ever played. The story, character interaction, and dialog is second to none. I've played it through eight times on different characters and each time the emotional turns and set pieces are still impressive. Several fantastic DLC, such as Shadow Broker, have further boosted the game's standing. True, they've removed a lot of classic RPG elements like inventory management. But they've created a huge and believable universe to explore and fight in, one that should be the envy of any other RPG. Still it's not a true blood RPG and it shouldn't be called that, but that isn't a bad thing. It's an amazing Action-Shooter-RPG hybrid that has only improved with additional playthroughs. Can't wait for Mass Effect 3!…Expand

The acting is almost movie worthy. It's incredible. The story is great, so is the amount of content. The graphics are gorgeous, the maps and design is great. There is only one problem for me - the gameplay, which isn't captivating enough to make me particularly enjoy it. Basically, the gameplay is always the same from start to end and changes little in the entire experience. You duckThe acting is almost movie worthy. It's incredible. The story is great, so is the amount of content. The graphics are gorgeous, the maps and design is great. There is only one problem for me - the gameplay, which isn't captivating enough to make me particularly enjoy it. Basically, the gameplay is always the same from start to end and changes little in the entire experience. You duck behind objects and shoot enemies. I find this game to be overhyped for this reason, along with the fact that ME1 did everything this did. The game deserves a solid 8, overall.…Expand

This game is a triumph. I kid you not, I've played through eight different times, continuing saves from Mass Effect and once starting from scratch on ME2. The story and gameplay are amazing. It's incredibly rewarding to see that your choices matter. The soundtrack is as epic as any Sci-fi adventure. This game is perfect.

If you are reading this you are no doubt aware that this is one of the finest games created in this generation. Regardless of what platform you have, this game is a must play. That being said I'm going to describe the pros and cons of playing the PC version. First off the PC version has some bugs and as of this writing they have no been patched. In the Normandy you will occasionally fallIf you are reading this you are no doubt aware that this is one of the finest games created in this generation. Regardless of what platform you have, this game is a must play. That being said I'm going to describe the pros and cons of playing the PC version. First off the PC version has some bugs and as of this writing they have no been patched. In the Normandy you will occasionally fall through the ship into a pitch black chasm. This is not often, but it happens and it's actually pretty hilarious. When it does happen you can just reload the checkpoint (which is updated often) and go on your merry way. The other problem with the PC version is the Liara mission which was pretty bad. If you don't do Liara's mission immediately after she asks you to do it and you run off to do something else then when you come back there will be a bug where you hack all the terminals but can't proceed in her mission. This ruined one playthrough for me so as long you know to do Liara's mission right away you should be fine. If you can deal with this bugs and you have a good system prepare to be rewarded with the benefits of the PC version. The graphics are far superior to the console versions, with beautiful, high resolution textures and anti-aliasing. Playing it on my 23" 1080p monitor and 5.1 speaker system was a blast. Surprisingly the cutscenes were not rendered in 1080p but in 720p, so the in-game cutscenes looks far better than the pre-rendered cutscenes, ironically. Playing with a mouse and keyboard are also fantastic, but beware that the default keyboard configuration is strange, to say the least. You can quickly customize this to your liking and it will feel much better than playing with a controller, especially since you can now quicksave. Bioware did not map the interactive dialogue to the number keys though, so you're stuck using a mouse to awkwardly choose your dialogue option in a wheel. Overall the problems with the PC version are minimal but if you have the rig to run it, it is definitely worth it.…Expand

I enjoyed Mass Effect 1 but was only able to give it 3/5 due to some pretty annoying flaws. I’m glad to say that most of those flaws have been eradicated in ME2. Gone are the endless slow elevator rides. Gone are the tedious, bouncy buggy rides on dull, lifeless planets. And gone is the ridiculously complex HUD. What hasn’t changed are its strong points, whichVery nearly the full kilo

I enjoyed Mass Effect 1 but was only able to give it 3/5 due to some pretty annoying flaws. I’m glad to say that most of those flaws have been eradicated in ME2. Gone are the endless slow elevator rides. Gone are the tedious, bouncy buggy rides on dull, lifeless planets. And gone is the ridiculously complex HUD. What hasn’t changed are its strong points, which remain in the storyline and RPG elements. Once again there is a detailed and compelling story along with many side plots and missions, which are more diverse and creative than those in ME1. The voice acting is excellent throughout as are the character models and animations, which are fluid and naturalistic. Graphically it’s very good for a four-year-old game, although there’s little in the way of physics, which is a shame. The combat has also improved, although it remains rather clunky and lacklustre compared to other games. The Mass Effect franchise is clearly about providing a rich and developed universe in which to place the player and to give that player a full-bodied RPG experience peppered with combat and action along the way. And in this respect ME2 really delivers. If not for the so-so combat I would have given it 5/5.…Expand

i dont belive that the best game in the frenchise i got in free i buy dragon age 2 so because of that i get the game in free i am a huge fan of the mass effect frenchise my first game of the frenchise was mass effect 2 that i got on free from that point on i became a huge fan the great story the gameplay side quest and the women mass effect 2 is the best in the frenchise for now until massi dont belive that the best game in the frenchise i got in free i buy dragon age 2 so because of that i get the game in free i am a huge fan of the mass effect frenchise my first game of the frenchise was mass effect 2 that i got on free from that point on i became a huge fan the great story the gameplay side quest and the women mass effect 2 is the best in the frenchise for now until mass effect 4 will come out and then i will test again what is the best in the frenchise…Expand

From Bioware comes the next installment in their sci fi shooter Mass Effect 2. Things begin right after Mass Effect 1's ending and the Normandy and it's crew are sent to investigate the Terminus System where ships have dissapeared. Once again you can play as Shepard who is violently killed when the Normandy is attacked then the organization Cerberus rebuilds you and you have to find outFrom Bioware comes the next installment in their sci fi shooter Mass Effect 2. Things begin right after Mass Effect 1's ending and the Normandy and it's crew are sent to investigate the Terminus System where ships have dissapeared. Once again you can play as Shepard who is violently killed when the Normandy is attacked then the organization Cerberus rebuilds you and you have to find out what is happening and stop it. Instead of being bossed around by the alliance you are bossed around by the Illusive Man voiced by Martin Sheen. The Game looks beautiful and the sound of plasma rushing past your head is great too. The combat is similar to Mass Effect 1 there is some new powers it is lighter on the RPG side but I did not mind that because the devs put extra detail into the battles. This time you have ammo instead of guns heating up which is great. You go to different planets in the game and gather up a crew to fight the enemy. There are little side missions to gain the crews loyalty too to increse the survivability on the final mission and if you suck bad on the final mission you can even get Shepard killed. I didn't make any sexy relationships this time over all that I did was have a girl over for dinner though but then she died. The game is great I have played through it 15 times since i got it ill give it a 9.5 this review will be on my blog also at http://www.maximalistgtg.blogspot.com/…Expand

Developer's decisions are weird sometimes. Replacing simple weapons stats with a description box... yyyy... haven't they read any design book? How does a pile of text make up for some easy and graphically-presented stats?! Than they replaced a good, interesting story-line with a simple gather-a-team-and-finish-them-all thing. In result the only two thing that I've remembered from thisDeveloper's decisions are weird sometimes. Replacing simple weapons stats with a description box... yyyy... haven't they read any design book? How does a pile of text make up for some easy and graphically-presented stats?! Than they replaced a good, interesting story-line with a simple gather-a-team-and-finish-them-all thing. In result the only two thing that I've remembered from this episode is that I've died at the beginning (nice one Bioware!) and then picking up some members of my team only to make some wrong decisions at the end and almost killed them then... xD The game is very good and I had a lot of fun but I don't agree with some decisions made there.

Mass Effect 2 has its problems, because it was developed mainly for consoles, which brought many disadvantages with it (linear levels, bad controls, horrible menus, removal of RPG elements) and PC players were left behind a bit.
It's still Mass Effect at the core though and the story and characters are so fantastic that it easily makes up for that. As in the first game, the story isMass Effect 2 has its problems, because it was developed mainly for consoles, which brought many disadvantages with it (linear levels, bad controls, horrible menus, removal of RPG elements) and PC players were left behind a bit.
It's still Mass Effect at the core though and the story and characters are so fantastic that it easily makes up for that. As in the first game, the story is great. I think the secret of the Mass Effect series is mainly in the writing, because the dialogues just feel more believable than in other games and they nailed it again in ME2. Of course it helps that graphics, music and gameplay (with the above mentioned exceptions) are all outstanding.…Expand

There is nothing bad I can say about this game. It pretty much single-handedly got me back into sci-fi in a big way. Great characters, great plot, massive worlds and seemingly endless scope for exploration. This thing sucked me in like few games do and I couldn't get enough of it. One of the truly great games on PS3 that's for sure.

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
While it does vastly improve the combat and gameplay of its previous iteration, the story of the game feels so illogical, despite being good and quite interesting. Why do you have to go around the galaxy doing unnecessary sidequests for each character to gain their loyalty, and why would they all want to follow you into an almost certain death anyhow? And how come Shepard with just a small squad is capable of obliterating a god-damn reaper and defeat the whole collectors base on his own, when none else can in the whole damn galaxy with billions, and billions of inhabitants. How come he succeeded so easily?…Expand

There are non-stop complains about mass effect 2 after its release. I, for one, genuinely believe this game is a ground breaking game that beautifully combined shooter gameplay with a role playing storyline and it's also the best game Bioware offered so far after Baldur's Gate series. The most problems people complained at are actually what makes mass effect 2 truly shine. I understand dieThere are non-stop complains about mass effect 2 after its release. I, for one, genuinely believe this game is a ground breaking game that beautifully combined shooter gameplay with a role playing storyline and it's also the best game Bioware offered so far after Baldur's Gate series. The most problems people complained at are actually what makes mass effect 2 truly shine. I understand die hard RPG fans are very hard to please, but the game has to evolve to get better. Mass Effect 2 did it and did it brilliantly. First, the removal of redundant inventory makes mass effect 2 a very well paced game. One of major bad design in mass effect is its painful inventory system. so you are a distinguish soldier and a spectre and you still have to kill mobs to loot better weapons and armors or sell those stuff for credits? why the council does not supply the best gears and funds to you? Also, dont you feel weird that a human being can carry dozens of guns and armors with him. Mass Effect 2 did it right, shepard can only carry several guns on mission and every weapon you start with is still viable in later game, also you get funds directly from Cerberus. Those changes are made for better experience. One thing I do miss is the weapon mods. they could do it like deus ex that gives a small and limited space to store some extra stuff. Second, character development is still a huge part of gameplay and the skills and abilities are still necessary for combat and social especially when mass effect 2's shooting mechanics is actually not that great. Some people think that role-playing means running around for meaningless side quests (mass effect 1 comes to mind) and keeping track of stats. I would those are not what defines role playing game. Mass Effect 2 gives the player the true immersion that you can expect from a role playing story line. That means taking a role and feel your role not plodding with meaningless exploration and stats.…Expand

This game was actually very good. I am personally not into Sci-Fi RPGs, but this game really got me involved. The story and especially the ending were fantastic. Though there a few bugs such at getting stuck on top of objects requiring you to load your last save and lose your current progress was annoying. Another was the character face creator seemed to be lacking, specially for theThis game was actually very good. I am personally not into Sci-Fi RPGs, but this game really got me involved. The story and especially the ending were fantastic. Though there a few bugs such at getting stuck on top of objects requiring you to load your last save and lose your current progress was annoying. Another was the character face creator seemed to be lacking, specially for the female character. However, the games ending really soaks up all the problems into a fantastic 'you are the hero' feeling in the most interactive cinematic experience i have ever had at my fingertips.…Expand

a clear improvement over the original. improved graphics and gameplay, along with an even better story than the first. your character personality can be changed once again based on your actions. the ending is influenced by how loyal your squad members are to you which happens during loyalty missions, and in some cases, dialogue choices. the gameplay itself has been greatly improved and nowa clear improvement over the original. improved graphics and gameplay, along with an even better story than the first. your character personality can be changed once again based on your actions. the ending is influenced by how loyal your squad members are to you which happens during loyalty missions, and in some cases, dialogue choices. the gameplay itself has been greatly improved and now has special actions that take place during some cutscenes, somewhat like qte's. left clicking is a renegade action, and right clicking is a paragon action. there's a larger variety of guns and powers now, although no gun mods which is a little disappointing. the voice acting has improved a bit, and the characters are more interesting now, which is also nice. the only problems are that there are still glitches, mainly getting stuck on pieces of scenery and having to wait to die or restarting the mission or last save.…Expand

A well-rounded and very solid sequel to the original. It improves on the first game in almost every aspect. The combat feels more fluid and much more fun, the graphics, story, and sound are better than ever.

It plays much like the original - an over the shoulder action/RPG. If you liked the first one, you will love this. There are reoccurring characters from the first game and theA well-rounded and very solid sequel to the original. It improves on the first game in almost every aspect. The combat feels more fluid and much more fun, the graphics, story, and sound are better than ever.

It plays much like the original - an over the shoulder action/RPG. If you liked the first one, you will love this. There are reoccurring characters from the first game and the ability to import your ME1 character, along with all the decisions (and consequences). A really nice touch.

My only (minor) gripes is that the inventory and level-up system seems even further dumbed down compared to the first one. A definite con for those of you that like customisation in their RPGs. The galaxy map is also a little silly (and pointless). These however, are nit-picking an otherwise superb game - a game that it probably on my top 10 games of all time. Everyone should play it. Period.

Mass effect 2 is a engaging shooter with satisfying gun combat and rpg mechanics. What makes the game particularly enjoyable in addition to the combat and team management is the level of immersion the game is capable of procuring. The audio-visual compartment is captivating. The world and lore is well flesh-out, which confers your choices and actions a sense of credibility and impact.Mass effect 2 is a engaging shooter with satisfying gun combat and rpg mechanics. What makes the game particularly enjoyable in addition to the combat and team management is the level of immersion the game is capable of procuring. The audio-visual compartment is captivating. The world and lore is well flesh-out, which confers your choices and actions a sense of credibility and impact. There are emotionally meaningful choices on offer which contributes greatly to the immersion. The pacing is on point, thanks also to the minimal amount of grinding present. The characters are well designed and like-able. All of this makes the game a highly enjoyable, personalized and entertaining ride from A to Z, which is rare. It is not a masterpiece of tactical combat and rpg elements, but it is a well-designed, coherent experience that does a lot of things well. This one of the most memorable game of the last generation and it is easily recommendable to anyone.…Expand

Better written, but it seems like the gameplay got even more repetitive when compared to the first. Still an extremely immersible game and well secured in my small vault of favorites. I would give this a ten because I love it. But from a neutral perspective the repetitiveness in gameplay has made it hard for me to play it again until me3 is announced

I had friends recommending me this series for quite a long time and I never saw what the big deal was about. One day I bought it cause it was on sale and the next thing I know I was sucked in to this universe, in love and like an addict that just wanted more doses of it. I have never played such an engaging and game so rich in depth. The gameplay is not the best, but it's the universe andI had friends recommending me this series for quite a long time and I never saw what the big deal was about. One day I bought it cause it was on sale and the next thing I know I was sucked in to this universe, in love and like an addict that just wanted more doses of it. I have never played such an engaging and game so rich in depth. The gameplay is not the best, but it's the universe and characters that really reel you in. A well deserved 10/10. A MUST OWN…Expand

Mass Effect 2 took everything that was great about Mass Effect, and made it better. Most of the annoying aspects of the first game were removed, and I really only have one complaint about the second one (the planet mining -- ugh). What really stood out for me was how well the sequel built upon the decisions that you made in the original. What BioWare has done here is something truly special.

There are very few games which can be described as having truly perfected their formula. One could say that Mario and Sonic perfected the platformer, that mario galaxy perfected the 3D platformer, perhaps even that games like GTA: San Andreas perfected the open-world formula. Mass Effect 2 is a game that has created its own formula by delicately fusing RPG elements with third-personThere are very few games which can be described as having truly perfected their formula. One could say that Mario and Sonic perfected the platformer, that mario galaxy perfected the 3D platformer, perhaps even that games like GTA: San Andreas perfected the open-world formula. Mass Effect 2 is a game that has created its own formula by delicately fusing RPG elements with third-person shooter gameplay, and the result is simply pure perfection.

The game picks up a few years after the first Mass Effect game and revolves around the protagonist from the first game, John (or Jane) Shepard, who after waking up from a coma and being essentially brought back from the dead by a shadowy organisation named Cerberus must stop an invasion of deadly aliens known as the Collectors, who are abducting entire colonies of humans for some unknown purpose. To do this, he must assemble a team and travel beyond the Omega 4 Relay, from which no ship has ever returned. As he recruits new allies and old friends for his suicide mission, Shepard makes new discoveries which reveal more and more of the mysterious Collectors' nature and goals.

The story in this game is absolutely amazing. How the plot progresses depends partly on the actions that Shepard took in the first Mass Effect, so I highly reccommend playing that first before this. The rest is decided through the game's morality system - "Paragon" choices make Shepard a much more noble, just character, whereas "Renegade" choices make him bolder, harsher and colder. This allows for a different experience and different character developments for Shepard depending on what choices the player makes throughout the game and its predecessor - anything that you do could change the course of the whole game. And when you reach the ending, I absolutely guarantee that you will be on the edge of your computer chair with tension. Also returning from Mass Effect 1 is the ability to start a romantic relationship with one of the characters on board the ship. This has little effect on the storyline itself but it's kind of cute to see Shepard finding love.

As for the gameplay, Mass Effect 2 builds upon the starndard third person shooter formula with some innovative features, for instance Shepard and his team can use various abilities in battle, including various technological abilities, different weapon ammo types and "biotics" - psychic-like abilities which can be used for both offence and defence. This seems to make battles flow much more as you swictn betwnn shooting and using your powers to find the best way of dispatching your enemy.

The game has a "loyalty mission" system, wherein you can gain special missions from particular characters, and if you complete these missions you will unlock an extra outfitm and extra power and that character's "loyalty" - in the endgame thhis will become very important, so after you start receiving these missions, try to avoid other missions until you have recruited everyone and completed all of their loyalty missions. Shepard can also purchase upgrades for his allies and for his ship, the Normandy - these will also be much needed in the endgame.

All in all, Mass Effect 2 is hard to describe with any other word other than its own title. With an awe-inspiring story, action-packed gameplay and endless replay value, no self-respecting gamer should pass it up.…Expand

This game was really charming, beautiful and interesting.The plot twists were really though out, the story was very original and not a copycat from the first game.The characters were very developed and the action was improved over the last game.
Mass Effect offered very great features and story while Mass Effect 2 improved over every aspect of the game. BioWare has made another greatThis game was really charming, beautiful and interesting.The plot twists were really though out, the story was very original and not a copycat from the first game.The characters were very developed and the action was improved over the last game.Mass Effect offered very great features and story while Mass Effect 2 improved over every aspect of the game. BioWare has made another great game with interesting story.…Expand

I cannot believe that people actually WANT TO SPEND THEIR TIME managing a completely useless inventory, when they can go out and smack enemies about in ME2. I enjoyed the fact that there was no inventory to speak of in ME2, and it was one of the good points of DA II. I like getting new items, I really do, it is awesome to get new good loot. I fully understand that, but I don't10/10.

I cannot believe that people actually WANT TO SPEND THEIR TIME managing a completely useless inventory, when they can go out and smack enemies about in ME2. I enjoyed the fact that there was no inventory to speak of in ME2, and it was one of the good points of DA II. I like getting new items, I really do, it is awesome to get new good loot. I fully understand that, but I don't want to have to manage it in an inventory and I don't want to have to swap from Katana I to Katana II and III every damn time I kill an enemy and receive the new and upgraded weapon. Loot should be meaningful, and rewarded from something special (kill boss or complete difficult mission etc.).

Mass Effect missed some things. It's combat wasn't all that good (ME2 improved on that), it's exploration "system" sucked (ME2 removed and got in planet scanning, imo just remove both), graphics (ME2 improved bigtime), immersion (I felt more inline with my shepard in ME2 than ME1).
ME 2 did also miss out on some things. In essence, the main story, is rather shallow, it feels like the game is a big mix of side missions, rather than a big main story and some side missions. The storyline could use a little bit of work. In the end, though, I have enjoyed every minute with ME2 and I am super hyped for ME 3.
I will give it a 9/10 because of the "little" miss on the storyline.…Expand

The game is very good and better than i expected. The pros: The game is very long especially compared to most games today although the actual main story alone is not very long, the graphics are excellent, good game play that combines 3rd person shooting with class powers that add a tactical element as well as simply making it more fun, there are some great RPG elements, the main being howThe game is very good and better than i expected. The pros: The game is very long especially compared to most games today although the actual main story alone is not very long, the graphics are excellent, good game play that combines 3rd person shooting with class powers that add a tactical element as well as simply making it more fun, there are some great RPG elements, the main being how you want to act and react as well as allow one to customize ones character very well, excellent story with believable, varied characters and world that keeps ones interest, excellent sound, music and especially voice acting.Neutral points that can be improved upon: the hacking and bypassing mini-games are fine but they are too simple and become tedious relatively fast, scanning planets for resources is okay at first but becomes boring quite quickly Cons: Short main story, feels repetitive at times, although the game allows one to customize ones character very well there are not many different weapons or armour available, the game does a good job of creating an illusion that it is a big game but in actual fact it is not. There are only four landable locations, the rest of the locations one only goes there once for a mission. Overall a excellent game that i enjoyed very much although there are a few things that can make it even better.Mass effect 3 just needs to build on the rpg elements and have a bit more variety as well as be a bigger game to surpass it's predecessor, lets hope it does .9/10…Expand

Really the best shooter to come out for a while, but I can't stand fps games so maybe I'm biased. Its not really an rpg since theres no loot or inventory involved, and customization is strictly powers-based since you're going to get the upgrades for all your guns anyway (and those all have specific uses so you can't be a "shotgun x" 100% of the time really). The story is top notch andReally the best shooter to come out for a while, but I can't stand fps games so maybe I'm biased. Its not really an rpg since theres no loot or inventory involved, and customization is strictly powers-based since you're going to get the upgrades for all your guns anyway (and those all have specific uses so you can't be a "shotgun x" 100% of the time really). The story is top notch and Mass Effect is a superb sci-fi universe overall For all you casuals, the graphics are amazing.…Expand

Great storyline, fun gameplay. Felt a bit like playing through a movie, was quite enjoyable. Not quite as long as I'd hoped for, but that's the only complaint I have. It's one of the few recent RPGs I didn't get bored of before I finished it, which is mainly due to the enjoyable storyline.

I have to admit, this game was fun i enjoyed it quite a bit, Although I cant help but feel like this was meant to be a movie more than a game and i'm talking about a Sci-Fi Grade B movie. I still think the game is worth buying but doesn't deserve a 9.

This is probably my favorite game of all time (fighting for the top spot with Deus Ex). The world's are fascinating, wandering around them is like exploring a real life community. ME1 was also a phenomenal game (also in my top three or four games of all time), but this one improves upon it's graphics and continues the same amazing quality of writing and character development. It's really aThis is probably my favorite game of all time (fighting for the top spot with Deus Ex). The world's are fascinating, wandering around them is like exploring a real life community. ME1 was also a phenomenal game (also in my top three or four games of all time), but this one improves upon it's graphics and continues the same amazing quality of writing and character development. It's really a must play. The only problem is I really want to play a game I enjoyed as much as this one again, but just can't find one (ME3 just didn't cut it).…Expand

I was impressed by ME1 and when i see the first reviews of ME2 i was sure it will get 10 from me. Unfortunately, reality was brutal. Why BioWare removed sightseeing the planets and substitiuted this dull minigame? Why there's no many weapons and armors? For me, ME2 is a step back.

Mass Effect 2 is a well-written game whose experience may be hindered by the surprisingly-linear level design. However the game does allow you to make certain choices when it comes to speaking with people which largely affects the outcome of the story. Also, the gameplay might not have as many RPG elements as its predecessor, but it works as a solid shooter in an over-saturated market ofMass Effect 2 is a well-written game whose experience may be hindered by the surprisingly-linear level design. However the game does allow you to make certain choices when it comes to speaking with people which largely affects the outcome of the story. Also, the gameplay might not have as many RPG elements as its predecessor, but it works as a solid shooter in an over-saturated market of modern military shooters i.e. Call of Duty. Visuals are gorgeous too. Between the highly-detailed environments and use of lighting, you might feel like you're watching J.J. Abrams' very own space opera. Definitely check this one out if you haven't already.…Expand

Despite the fact that nearly all of the RPG content was removed.. Mass Effect 2 still brought in one hell of a game. I seriously wish the main plot line was larger though, you'll easily spend most of this game completing sub quests and building your squad. However, all those dull sounding moments turn out to be truly spectacular.

Mass Effect 2 is mass effect's greatest peak in the entire trilogy. And perhaps bioware's magnum opus at their time. Mostly everything was improved from mass effect 1, such as the poor optimization for PC ports. But some sacrifices had to be made from mass effect 2 which wasn't in the previous games. Such as the RPG elements in mass effect 2 are very, very limited compared to the previousMass Effect 2 is mass effect's greatest peak in the entire trilogy. And perhaps bioware's magnum opus at their time. Mostly everything was improved from mass effect 1, such as the poor optimization for PC ports. But some sacrifices had to be made from mass effect 2 which wasn't in the previous games. Such as the RPG elements in mass effect 2 are very, very limited compared to the previous entry. But otherwise, the story was interesting as you fight with Cerberus, learning from the previous game, Cerberus was know for their terrorist acts.

Squad members improved as well. They included 2x more squad mates in the second installation as well as 2 old squad members from mass effect 1 rejoin you as well. Not only that you get to have a dedicated mission to increase their loyalty as well as increasing their chances of a romance for some characters.

So overall this game gives a lot more than it's their previous entry which results in a lot more longer gameplay. (Mass effect 1 clocks around 19-20 hours of 80% gameplay completed and mass effect 2 clocks in about 28-30 hours of 90% completed plus 10 more hours of dlc completed at 100%). Although it does remove RPG elements from the first game and looting and limited the amount of weapons and armor plus the mako removed from the game. I think the game is still worth looking at if you liked the first game. This game has many planets to explore as well as an interesting storyline.

A perfect game. Plot, combat, characters. Everything was improved from ME1. Some players might find more action and less RPG gameplay disturbing but i like it. Definitelly the best game of ME saga up to date.

The successor of ME1 improved graphics but removed RPG components from the previous version. Also no world exploration and areas feel more dungeon like than open worlds. Still, its strong point -the story- is still strong -if stronger- and that is the important part.

In game you become resurrected captain Sherppard to face the ever present danger from the Reapers and their newest lackeys in the form of Collectors. To stop them from harvesting humans you need to travel the galaxy far and wide to recruit your allays and defeat the Collectors.
This game does not differ very muchA second instalment in what is probably the best sci-fi shooting RPG.

In game you become resurrected captain Sherppard to face the ever present danger from the Reapers and their newest lackeys in the form of Collectors. To stop them from harvesting humans you need to travel the galaxy far and wide to recruit your allays and defeat the Collectors.

This game does not differ very much from the first part but it doesn't have to to be good. The graphics, the voice acting, the music - everything is top notch. You get a wide array of weapons with which to shoot your enemies. And special powers to augment your weapons and strike your enemies. The gameplay is very nice and smooth, you control your character from third person view, and can give commands to your two team mates. In most situations they do just fine with only once in a while necessity to directly issue orders.

The environment is pretty, varies from place to place and is well designed. The shooting in most cases is a familiar cover based fire fight. You one from one cover to another, reload and shoot with weapon best suited for the situation.

The only problem I had with the game is that there is not that much of a main story line. Most of the missions can be treated separately as most of them is either recruiting a new team member or helping him out with his specific task. Almost all of them need a separate recruitment and all of them come with a single mission not really related to the main task. For a completionist this sets the main mission on hold and you get the feeling of "no hurry - we've got time" contrary to the what the game would like to make you feel.

Space exploration is fun as well though looking for resources can be a bit tedious at times. But each mission is designed with care and creates a solid, atmospheric experience.

Overall really liked the game and can highly recommend it to anyone liking sci-fi.…Expand

Definetly the best game in the series in my opinion. The gameplay is pretty much the same as the other games, but the missions are much more interesting and i really liked the system of having to earn your squads trust. The story is probably also the best in the series and it comes up with some difficult choices every now and then.

Bioshock has invented a new genre and I like it very much: a tactical-third person-role playing-shooter. If you enjoy playing video games of any kind, I highly recommend it: they've perfected the type of game they were shooting for in the original game (a somewhat flawed, but also brilliant role-playing shooter). It reminds me most of Deus Ex, but far more fantastical and fascinating. GoBioshock has invented a new genre and I like it very much: a tactical-third person-role playing-shooter. If you enjoy playing video games of any kind, I highly recommend it: they've perfected the type of game they were shooting for in the original game (a somewhat flawed, but also brilliant role-playing shooter). It reminds me most of Deus Ex, but far more fantastical and fascinating. Go buy this game now, as well as it's original incarnation!…Expand

Gonna keep this short and sweet. You need the "Better ME2 (unofficial patch)" mod to enjoy this game, but it's amazing. Anti-aliasing is a MAJOR problem on PC, because there's no way to activate it in the mass effect 2 launcher, but the quick mod I mentioned instantly clears it up. Besides that it's outstanding and just as good as the original.

The sequel to the first ME it's good but not that good as the first.
The things I did enjoy in the sequel. NPC's still good and there is a lot more to chose from. I missed Wrex and the other Krogan Grunt was not my type. Favorite characters in this part are Garus, Thane, Jack and Zaeed.
Dialogue options were expanded even more. Combat was improved and the cover system felt more fluid.The sequel to the first ME it's good but not that good as the first.
The things I did enjoy in the sequel. NPC's still good and there is a lot more to chose from. I missed Wrex and the other Krogan Grunt was not my type. Favorite characters in this part are Garus, Thane, Jack and Zaeed.
Dialogue options were expanded even more. Combat was improved and the cover system felt more fluid.
What is missing is the world exploration. Now it's just scamning. The game is more combat focused. The side quest are mostly gone. Insted we get NPC side quests which are interesting but there are only few of them.
Good game but they didn't have to change it in that many ways. Played it twice from start to finish.
For me 8 out of 10.

PS. There is a good selection of interesting DLC. Worth to play them just for the story.…Expand

They cut out a lot of the fluff of the first game. Not as many weapons or armor to choose from, but really, most of it got melted into omni gel which is no longer needed. They ditched the Mako parts which is good. A lot of the rpg leveling system got cut, but again it was mostly fluff stuff like the equivalent of lockpicking, which is just a universal type skill now. This game is aThey cut out a lot of the fluff of the first game. Not as many weapons or armor to choose from, but really, most of it got melted into omni gel which is no longer needed. They ditched the Mako parts which is good. A lot of the rpg leveling system got cut, but again it was mostly fluff stuff like the equivalent of lockpicking, which is just a universal type skill now. This game is a satisfying experience with a high replay value. Much improved on from the first.…Expand

I don't know what others see in this game. Yes,it is good, no, It isn't great. Story is kind of a mixed bag; good, but feels extremely unrealistic (yes, I know this is a sci-fi game). The combat part of the game is the worst. I don't know if the console ports have this, but you can shoot from behind a wall even though you don't flat to the wall and companion abilities are done from yourI don't know what others see in this game. Yes,it is good, no, It isn't great. Story is kind of a mixed bag; good, but feels extremely unrealistic (yes, I know this is a sci-fi game). The combat part of the game is the worst. I don't know if the console ports have this, but you can shoot from behind a wall even though you don't flat to the wall and companion abilities are done from your perspective not the one who uses it. These things weren't present in the original game. Insanity difficulty is challenging, despite these irritations/bugs. The other problem is the inventory. You can't change companion armors and when you have to choose yours the stat display feels very misplaced. Character development is great, dialogue is the same. After 3 play-through I can say this game is good, but not great like the original.…Expand

This game is well written, has a good variety of options and while I can agree it did get simplified slightly from the first one, I can't say those are bad things. This game was very enjoyable in all facets - story, amazing music, game play, leveling, everything is interesting and fun. They did a great job with the game and the only thing keeping me from giving it a 10 is that parts ofThis game is well written, has a good variety of options and while I can agree it did get simplified slightly from the first one, I can't say those are bad things. This game was very enjoyable in all facets - story, amazing music, game play, leveling, everything is interesting and fun. They did a great job with the game and the only thing keeping me from giving it a 10 is that parts of it felt a little rushed, it was mildly buggy at times, and it was abused with some rather stupid DLC .. weapons/armor packs anyone? That's EA at work, though, not Bioware. God, I hate EA so much. Everything they touch is tainted with bad, greedy marketing and the taint of stockholders who care more about profits this year than long term.…Expand

Game of a generation. My kids will enjoy this 10, 15 years down the line (if there is still Earth to play this on)This is a fine-made RPG/FPS game and great sequel to the already successful Mass Effect game. Two points were taken off for these reasons: 1) Looting system is gone. This is not cool (especially when they decided not to bring it in ME3); 2) DLCs involve story-criticalGame of a generation. My kids will enjoy this 10, 15 years down the line (if there is still Earth to play this on)This is a fine-made RPG/FPS game and great sequel to the already successful Mass Effect game. Two points were taken off for these reasons: 1) Looting system is gone. This is not cool (especially when they decided not to bring it in ME3); 2) DLCs involve story-critical missions. I had to go back and get all the DLCs before I start ME3. These years this has been a game publishing trend - (FFXIII-2 I'm talking about you) using DLC as a lure out of hard-working (or playing) gamers' pockets. We'd pay if it's an excellent (or is a fanboy of) game, but not through these little DLC packages. There should totally have been a GOTY edition made to include all DLCs so I didn't have to collect them one by one painfully through the Cerberus Network. I am saddened today to learn that the Mass Effect series ended up like every other (pinnacle at 2, tragedy at 3): Uncharted, Gears of War, God of War etc...…Expand

Too empty for an RPG, too branching for a shooter, Mass Effect 2 sits in a genre all it's own. I'll admit, when it first came out, I thought Mass Effect 2 was just a lousy attempt by Bioware to make money, but with the new free DLC, it began to look like something good. With all the DLC that Bioware's released, it's finally a good game.

If you thought that the fist one was the winner than you didn't play Mass Effect 2! Absolutely stunning! Universe just got bigger and more alive! Bunch of great missions to do. Your ship just got twice bigger so did your crew! Yes they striped away some of the RPG elements from the first one. But honestly I don't miss them! Great game is great game. It's more action packed now which is okIf you thought that the fist one was the winner than you didn't play Mass Effect 2! Absolutely stunning! Universe just got bigger and more alive! Bunch of great missions to do. Your ship just got twice bigger so did your crew! Yes they striped away some of the RPG elements from the first one. But honestly I don't miss them! Great game is great game. It's more action packed now which is ok with me! Still plenty of guys/gals and aliens to talk to in game! Loved it so much bought it for PS3 game of the year edition as well!!…Expand

Took away 2 points because it's hard to transition from Mass Effect 1 to Mass Effect 2. A lot of the customization has been stripped away, which isn't necessarily a bad thing (no more having to sell/gel items every 5 minutes because of the item limit) but some players enjoy the incremental upgrades in games. The other thing is the sudden change in controls. What used to be run is nowTook away 2 points because it's hard to transition from Mass Effect 1 to Mass Effect 2. A lot of the customization has been stripped away, which isn't necessarily a bad thing (no more having to sell/gel items every 5 minutes because of the item limit) but some players enjoy the incremental upgrades in games. The other thing is the sudden change in controls. What used to be run is now pause. What used to be pause is now run. What used to be interact is now order squad mate, and the new run key is also the new interact key. So if you're coming straight from ME1 be prepared to get frustrated while you get used to the new controls. Besides those 2 things the game is great and a huge improvement over (the already great) mass effect 1. And the way it carries over decisions made in the previous game adds a whole new layer of immersion and replayability.…Expand

I don't think I've said "wow" playing a video game as many times as I did while playing Mass Effect 2. Just to make things perfectly clear, this game is awe inspiring. I was blown away by Mass Effect when it first came out and decided to play through it once again before taking on 2. Well I just finished Mass Effect and jumped straight on to 2...and the difference is like night and day,I don't think I've said "wow" playing a video game as many times as I did while playing Mass Effect 2. Just to make things perfectly clear, this game is awe inspiring. I was blown away by Mass Effect when it first came out and decided to play through it once again before taking on 2. Well I just finished Mass Effect and jumped straight on to 2...and the difference is like night and day, and not just from a visual perspective. First off, Mass Effect 2 is NOT your traditional definition of a role playing game, but is more of a hybrid of first person shooter with less role-playing elements (compared to the first game) and with an emphasis on action. Personally I was hesitant to see how this would affect the experience, but I'm very happy to say that the game is even more engrossing than the first. Bioware made some very bold decisions with their treatment of ME 2, and I would say that their judgment was sound. The combat system has been tweaked to be more cover based and with the new thermal clips (think ammo supply, but they re-fluff it to fit the game worlds reality) limit mindless blasting. Now you have to be a bit more careful on your ammo expenditure, which to me adds a new level of dynamics to how you approach combat. Thankfully thermal clips can be found in and out of combat fairly easily, so it isn't to the point where it gets unfair, but I ran out of ammo several times and at one point was forced to use some hand to hand attacks to get a Krogan off my teammates. It was one of the best moments yet. Weapons and powers now have different defense types that they are effective against, which gives you a reason to consider their applications against the current enemy you're facing. Bioware also decided to scrap the inventory system altogether, which as of now I don't really miss at all. One of the things that tended to bog down game play for me was the constant need to omni-gel 3/4ths of my inventory every half-hour, which was more annoying than anything. They really put a lot of thought into that, as it doesn't disrupt the flow of the story any more, but it may be nice in the future to return to a more limited item system. Sadly, for the loot-whores, it's pretty much nonexistent, with more of mind towards researching upgrades from the schematics that you find. That being said, I don't miss their disappearance one bit...yet. One thing that does cause some sadness is the loss of the Mako, but from a design perspective, it was a good decision. As much fun as I had landing on barren planet after planet, it did get old after the 15th or so Assignment and grew very repetitive. The planet scanning mini game that replaces it is actually interesting so far, and I like the concept (once I downloaded the patches for faster scanning). The rest of the mini-games that make up the hacking parts of ME 2 are simple (at first, I jumped in with no idea how to play them) enough and only required a little trial and error if you just jump in with no prior knowledge on how they work. I like them better than the ol' frogger or simon game from the first. With that out of the way, let me get to the thing that really makes ME 2 shine, and that's its excellent cinematic style and character development. The voice work is top notch, I had many different moments where I laughed out loud, got teary eyed at some of the more somber moments, and just cheered out when something amazing or unexpected occurred. The games ability to move me and immediately engross me in the world, right from the start, is impressive, and the developers really improved their cinematography compared to the first. One thing that really helps develop the feel of the game is the music. Mass Effects music has always been spectacular, giving it at times a Blade Runner-like feel, and while I'm not normally a fan of the synth-sound, it does its job extremely well and then some. So far I have very little (if at all) complaints about this game. If anything the controls, especially after playing ME 1, take some getting used to. Being the crouch-whore that I am, I felt a bit out of place when my first reaction was to try to crouch in combat, but now there is no such thing. The cover mechanics work well, but I wish that you could separate the use/take cover/storm commands, as I sometimes had difficulty when near cover when attempting to storm away from an incoming missile. The inclusion of the health regeneration is mixed for me, as I like not having a health bar, but in this game it works. All in all this game is the closest thing to the game I would like to see and play. It may not be for everyone, but I think its appeal transcends any genre, be it rpg, fps, or whatever. An engaging story with dynamic characterization (you and your teammates), well written dialogue, and fun game-play are what make ME 2 one of the best games I have ever played, and I have played many, and it would take a very jaded gamer to hate this one.…Expand

Sequels are always a scary thing. Mass Effect 2 came out and a lot of stuff that I found accessible enough from 1 was simplified. Sure, I didn't particularly enjoy driving around on a planet for 10 minutes, but would have preferred that over probing. Each game was better in its own way. I liked the wider range of well, everything you could do in 1, but enjoyed the story and characters moreSequels are always a scary thing. Mass Effect 2 came out and a lot of stuff that I found accessible enough from 1 was simplified. Sure, I didn't particularly enjoy driving around on a planet for 10 minutes, but would have preferred that over probing. Each game was better in its own way. I liked the wider range of well, everything you could do in 1, but enjoyed the story and characters more in 2. I like to think the thought of reapers made everyone get better training and stop being as clunky, but that's just me.…Expand

EA surprised me with this game. Normally EA doesn't do so well with gaming, but this! EA and BioWare really did a good job on improving this franchise. Let's start from the top: A near-perfect beginning, that got my heart racing and immersing me into the story (I'm not gonna spoil it). The rest of the story is near perfect, giving more room than all other games for what you want yourEA surprised me with this game. Normally EA doesn't do so well with gaming, but this! EA and BioWare really did a good job on improving this franchise. Let's start from the top: A near-perfect beginning, that got my heart racing and immersing me into the story (I'm not gonna spoil it). The rest of the story is near perfect, giving more room than all other games for what you want your character and your squad to be. Example: You can have your character be a warm-hearted kind guy who does stuff for the people, or the epic badass who always trusts the bad way of doing things. You can have your squad master this power or that, or have an even balance between things. The combat is the best I've seen ever, and makes Mass Effect 1's combat seem poorly done (ME1's combat is great, btw). And powers are greatly improved, as well- cool-down reduction, great looking, and very useful (especially for biotics). Infinite ammo is removed, which really removes a lot of stress (overheating weapons in ME1 is a pain in the @**). All in all, I think this game's a genius's work. Credits to EA and BioWare!…Expand

True sequel to the first masterpiece,again great story,improved gameplay elements.(only backfire is the new weapon and skill system in my opinion,but its easy to overlook that).
And what catched me is,that how the game feedbacks on your imported savegame,you backstory.
PLAY THE FIRST GAME FIRST!!!!!
MUST HAVE FOR EVERYONE.
Looking foward for the third one which i will start next week.True sequel to the first masterpiece,again great story,improved gameplay elements.(only backfire is the new weapon and skill system in my opinion,but its easy to overlook that).
And what catched me is,that how the game feedbacks on your imported savegame,you backstory.
PLAY THE FIRST GAME FIRST!!!!!
MUST HAVE FOR EVERYONE.
Looking foward for the third one which i will start next week.
And so far,the best optimized game i've seen.It runs so well on my old P4 that im amazed.

[spoiler] it is really satisfying to hear how are the rachni(just save them :D),to meet old friends,to get **** up by krogans.:D
To look at the universe,and see what you made with your choices.(council or TV report from ME1.)…Expand

An awesome sequel to the first Mass Effect, with an engaging story and graphics far superior to its predecessor. They removed one annoying element (cumbersome inventory management) with another one (tedious scanning of planets to collect resources for upgrades), but overall gameplay goes smoothly and is very entertaining. The RPG elements are a bit light though, with the limited choices ofAn awesome sequel to the first Mass Effect, with an engaging story and graphics far superior to its predecessor. They removed one annoying element (cumbersome inventory management) with another one (tedious scanning of planets to collect resources for upgrades), but overall gameplay goes smoothly and is very entertaining. The RPG elements are a bit light though, with the limited choices of skills and upgrades.…Expand

Frustrating on some parts but with an awesome lore. It should please pro gamers as well as those who play for the story because everything you do (or don't do) affects on the final result. Casual gamers, stay away from this, it's a masterpiece but with some flaws like the lack of mission markers for sidequest (ehemZeldaSyndromeehem) or the dificulty spikes. Even there are some dificultyFrustrating on some parts but with an awesome lore. It should please pro gamers as well as those who play for the story because everything you do (or don't do) affects on the final result. Casual gamers, stay away from this, it's a masterpiece but with some flaws like the lack of mission markers for sidequest (ehemZeldaSyndromeehem) or the dificulty spikes. Even there are some dificulty holes that demando no skill from the player whatsoever. Like a Picasso painting with some wine stains.…Expand

First off, I want to point out the stupidity of Users giving low scores at the moment. Almost all are giving it a low score because they release DLC's. Thats like criticising an author for releasing each of his books individually over 5 years instead of putting them in a 1000 page omnibus. Mass Effect 2 is a masterpiece. A symphony of stunning graphics, sublime voice acting, innovativeFirst off, I want to point out the stupidity of Users giving low scores at the moment. Almost all are giving it a low score because they release DLC's. Thats like criticising an author for releasing each of his books individually over 5 years instead of putting them in a 1000 page omnibus. Mass Effect 2 is a masterpiece. A symphony of stunning graphics, sublime voice acting, innovative gameplay, incredibly gripping non-linear story and a rich sci-fi universe, brimming with lively characters. This will go down in the history of gaming. One of the greatest RPG trilogies that will ever be made.…Expand

I'll start by stating that I'm anything but a Sci-Fi fan, so I guess what I have to say might carry a bit more weight than if I was.

I must say I dind't enjoy any game like I enjoyed Dragon Age:Origins for a long time, and yet, given the choice to play DA:O (which is more in line with the games is enjoy the most) or ME2, I'd have to think for a while and then probably choose MassI'll start by stating that I'm anything but a Sci-Fi fan, so I guess what I have to say might carry a bit more weight than if I was.

I must say I dind't enjoy any game like I enjoyed Dragon Age:Origins for a long time, and yet, given the choice to play DA:O (which is more in line with the games is enjoy the most) or ME2, I'd have to think for a while and then probably choose Mass Effect 2.

I loved it so much I even started looking for a tactical first person shooter (which not my kind of game, really), which eventually lead to the discovery of Battelfield 3.

Overall, though not in my usual vein of games, probably the most satisfying game I ever played.…Expand

Simply awesome, at first its "good" but as you start playing it, it gets a lot better. Depending of what you say or do in the game, affects the story in some way. They are only a few problems like crashing and audio glitching out, but they appear rarely so it doesn't ruin the experience. I highly recommend this.

The game doesn't show true RPG elements, but, who cares? The decisions, gameplay and well made characters is enough to make you enjoy this game. Wonderful RP game where you can truly shape more or less your adventure.

Great story
Memorable Characters
Better character development (in particular of Tali and Garus)
Superb voice acting
Great visuals for an RPG game (but not at "The Witcher" level)
Excellent soundtrack and sound effects
Tons of Re-playability
The Fair:
The ending
Generic Villain
The Bad:
Mini-games are still boring
More linear than Mass effect 1
The Gameplay isThe Good:

Great story
Memorable Characters
Better character development (in particular of Tali and Garus)
Superb voice acting
Great visuals for an RPG game (but not at "The Witcher" level)
Excellent soundtrack and sound effects
Tons of Re-playability

The Fair:
The ending
Generic Villain

The Bad:
Mini-games are still boring
More linear than Mass effect 1
The Gameplay is Less RPG oriented…Expand

Mass Effect 2 is a modern day RPG masterpiece. From the story to the music, everything is pretty much near perfect. This is a must play for any RPG fan. ME2's development started right after EA acquired Bioware, but had a mostly hands off approach to the game.

ME1's main flaw was it's battle system. It was lackluster and needed improvement. Bioware decided to take the risk andMass Effect 2 is a modern day RPG masterpiece. From the story to the music, everything is pretty much near perfect. This is a must play for any RPG fan. ME2's development started right after EA acquired Bioware, but had a mostly hands off approach to the game.

ME1's main flaw was it's battle system. It was lackluster and needed improvement. Bioware decided to take the risk and incorporate a "real" FPS system in ME2. Well, that risk payed off bigtime in one of the best blockbuster RPG's of our time.

Other traditional RPG elements such as inventory management are eliminated helping to streamline your experiences. And you know what? It works, it fits. It helps you focus on more important, and more enjoyable things in the game. Having a simple upgrade system works much better.

ME2 takes the game to all new levels. A deeper, more interesting battle system. The character interactions are excellent. The development, the actions you take, the choices you make really do affect the outcome of this story.

As in Classic Star Wars fashion, the second movie raises the stakes even higher, is darker and more serious than ever. The real possibility of your teammates dying in the final, suicide mission was a brilliant move by Bioware. The game climaxes at the best point the end where you see all your work, all of your choices unfold, leaving some to the next and final part of the trilogy. The raise in tension is felt throughout the game, and drives the player forward.

The soundtrack is excellent and accurately reflects such high stakes.

ME2 really surpassed the bar for RPG's. It had me glued to the game. When I am glued to a game playing it every day from start to finish, I know its a hit.

Its just such a shame that it's sequel, ME3 was unfortunately a lackluster, rushed finish and a real letdown. Obviously, EA had involved themselves in the final game, which really screwed up ME3.

Most gamers will recognize ME2 as the real climax of the series and the best out of the 3.

Fantastic game. Different from the first, but great in it's own way. People are afraid of change and that's what this game did. Mass Effect 2 separated itself from the first Mass Effect giving players another great 50+ hour game. I have no complaints whatsoever about ME2, I highly recommend it. But, if you happen to be one of these "I hate change, make the game how I want it" type ofFantastic game. Different from the first, but great in it's own way. People are afraid of change and that's what this game did. Mass Effect 2 separated itself from the first Mass Effect giving players another great 50+ hour game. I have no complaints whatsoever about ME2, I highly recommend it. But, if you happen to be one of these "I hate change, make the game how I want it" type of players, then move along this might not be for you.…Collapse

Mass Effect 2 delivers a story that's deeper than what many novelists are capable of, and its action is better than what most Hollywood directors are creating nowadays. It's an addictive, engrossing experience that many gamers will replay over and over while they hold their breath waiting for the third game.

A brilliant mix of shooter and role-playing, filled with great characters, excellent design, lots of action and clever dialogue. It's a shame though that Bioware did not improve the inventory and skill system of the first game, but actually reduced it even more. I really wished there were more customization options, more ways to develop and gear up my characters. But all these are merely small points of criticism, since there is so much to feel and experience in this game. Mass Effect 2 is a thrilling, emotional ride and ultimately every bit as good as its predecessor.